Aslef members voted for five more days of strikes. Photo: James Manning/Pennsylvania
Commuters are facing a new wave of strikes and rail disruptions. later this month, train drivers will stage rolling strikes and ban overtime work.
The disruptions are the latest blow to travelers who have suffered 20 months of strikes since unions began a wage dispute with the government. and train companies.
Here's everything you need to know about the latest strikes…
When will the train strikes take place and which train companies will be affected?
Aslef union members will be on strike within five days from Tuesday, January 30, to Monday, February 5, and from January 29 will prohibit overtime work for nine days.
Aslef announced that train drivers on the LNER would strike for five days in February over a long-running pay dispute, but those strikes have now been called off.
A total of 16 train drivers will be affected, although for each Of these, only one day of the strike will be affected. Below you will see which operators will be affected on different days:
Tuesday, January 30:South Eastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, Great North, GTR Thameslink, South Western Railway Main Line and Depot drivers and SWR Island Line.
Wednesday 31 January:< /strong>Northern and TransPennine trains
Friday 2 February:C2C, Greater Anglia and LNER
Saturday 3 February: West Coast Avanti, East Midlands Railway and West Midlands Trains
Monday 5 February:Chiltern, CrossCountry and GWR
CANCELLED: Monday 5 February to Friday 9 February:LNER
I thought the train strikes were over — why are there more of them?
Aslef's ongoing wage dispute has been affecting travelers for the past 20 months, and train drivers, represented by the Aslef union, voted overwhelmingly to continue the strike for the next six months. , potentially leading to further passenger suffering in 2024.
Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members have also been on strike since June 2022.
But they voted overwhelmingly in December to accept an agreement that would end their long-running dispute over wages and working conditions. Under the agreement, the union will suspend strike action until at least April 2024 in exchange for a backdated payment offer that would put all members in line for a one-off Christmas payment of at least £1,750.
What about minimum service levels?
The Aslef rail strikes could be the first test of new rules aimed at ensuring a minimum level of service during strikes, set at 40% in the transport sector.
A bill on minimum standards for passenger rail, ambulance and fire and rescue services was passed in July to ensure essential services remain intact. This means employers will be able to fire employees who refuse to come to work when ordered, and unions that fail to meet minimum requirements could face legal action.
However, the union responded by warning that legislation could make any strike worse.
Mr Whelan said: “Having seen the determination of our members and the support of train drivers among our passengers and the public since this dispute began in June 2022, the Tories have now tried their old trick of changing the rules.”
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“When they couldn't force us to back down, they introduced minimum service levels — designed to effectively ban strikes, making them ineffective — but this new law will not ease labor struggles. This will only make the situation worse.»
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan (centre) says some members haven't earned «a penny»; for half a decade more. Photo: James Manning/PA Wire. Travel tips during train strikes
National Rail had previously warned passengers that there would be no services on strike days and significant disruption in the days before and after the strike.
National Rail advised passengers to use its journey planning tool to check alternative routes. Passengers should check the time of each strike, the message said.
Why is Aslef on strike?
The Aslef pay dispute has been ongoing since the first ballot papers were published in June 2022, with the union accusing the Government of failing to end the row.
Mr Whelan said: “We have given the Government every opportunity to sit down to the negotiating table, but it has been a year since we have had any contact with the Department of Transport. It's clear they don't want to settle this dispute.
“Many members have failed to get a penny of pay rise in half a century during which inflation has risen sharply, and with it the cost of living. We did not ask for an increase during the pandemic when we worked through lockdown as key workers, risking our lives to move goods around the country and enable the NHS and other workers to get to work.
“ Frankly, there is no justification for all this nonsense. The government and [train operators] must do the right thing and come to the table with a realistic offer so we can end this dispute and work together to secure the future of our railways.»
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